Thermochromatic indicator for an aersol container

Abstract

An aerosol container includes an aerosol canister for containing a flowable product at a pressure greater than ambient pressure, a dispensing valve for dispensing the flowable product from the aerosol canister, and a thermochromatic indicator provided on the aerosol canister. The thermochromatic indicator preferably is comprised of one or more thermochromatic materials and can provide a visual indication of at least one of (i) a fill level of the flowable product in the aerosol container and (ii) whether the temperature of the aerosol container in the vicinity of the thermochromatic indicator exceeds a predetermined temperature. Also disclosed are methods of detecting a fill level of a flowable product in an aerosol container using a thermchromatic indicator and manufacturing an aerosol container having a thermochromatic indicator. A thermochromatic pattern can also be applied to an aerosol container for a decorative effect.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An aerosol container, comprising: 
 an aerosol canister for containing a flowable product at a pressure greater than ambient pressure;    a dispensing valve for dispensing the flowable product from the aerosol canister; and    a thermochromatic indicator provided on the aerosol canister for providing a visual indication of a state of the aerosol container.    
     
     
         2 . The aerosol container of  claim 1 , wherein the thermochromatic indicator provides a visual indication of a fill level of the flowable product in the aerosol canister.  
     
     
         3 . The aerosol container of  claim 2 , wherein the thermochromatic indicator comprises at least one column of a thermochromatic material.  
     
     
         4 . The aerosol container of  claim 2 , wherein the thermochromatic indicator comprises a plurality of columns of a plurality of thermochromatic materials, and each column is comprised of a thermochromatic material having a color-play window that is different than the color-play windows of the thermochromatic materials of adjacent columns.  
     
     
         5 . The aerosol container of  claim 4 , wherein each thermochromatic material is at least one of a liquid crystal compound and a leuco dye.  
     
     
         6 . The aerosol container of  claim 2 , further comprising a time-to-replace indicator in association with the thermochromatic indicator.  
     
     
         7 . The aerosol container of  claim 1 , wherein the thermochromatic indicator provides a visual warning if the temperature of the aerosol canister in the vicinity of the thermochromatic indicator exceeds a predetermined temperature.  
     
     
         8 . The aerosol container of  claim 1 , wherein the thermochromatic indicator comprises a label including at least one thermochromatic material.  
     
     
         9 . The aerosol container of  claim 1 , wherein the thermochromatic indicator comprises at least one thermochromatic material printed on the aerosol canister.  
     
     
         10 . An aerosol product, comprising: 
 a pressurizable aerosol container, including a dispensing valve and an actuator for selectively opening the dispensing valve;    a flowable product contained within the aerosol container; and    a thermochromatic indicator provided on the aerosol container for providing a visual indication of at least one of (i) a fill level of the flowable product in the aerosol container and (ii) whether the temperature of the aerosol container in the vicinity of the thermochromatic indicator exceeds a predetermined temperature.    
     
     
         11 . The aerosol product of  claim 10 , wherein the thermochromatic indicator comprises at least one column of a thermochromatic material.  
     
     
         12 . The aerosol product of  claim 10 , wherein the thermochromatic indicator comprises a plurality of columns of a plurality of thermochromatic materials, and each column is comprised of a thermochromatic material having a color-play window that is different than the color-play windows of the thermochromatic materials of adjacent columns.  
     
     
         13 . The aerosol product of  claim 12 , wherein each thermochromatic material is at least one of a liquid crystal compound and a leuco dye.  
     
     
         14 . The aerosol product of  claim 10 , further comprising a time-to-replace indicator in association with the thermochromatic indicator.  
     
     
         15 . The aerosol product of  claim 10 , wherein the thermochromatic indicator comprises a label including at least one thermochromatic material.  
     
     
         16 . The aerosol product of  claim 10 , wherein the thermochromatic indicator comprises at least one thermochromatic material printed on the aerosol container.  
     
     
         17 . An aerosol container, comprising: 
 an aerosol canister for containing a flowable product at a pressure greater than ambient pressure;    means for dispensing the flowable product from the aerosol canister; and    means for providing a visual indication of at least one of (i) a fill level of the flowable product in the aerosol canister and (ii) whether the temperature of the aerosol canister exceeds a predetermined temperature.    
     
     
         18 . The aerosol container of  claim 17 , wherein the visual indicating means comprises a thermochromatic indicator including at least one thermochromatic material.  
     
     
         19 . A method of detecting a fill level of a flowable product in an aerosol container, comprising the steps of: 
 inducing a temperature differential in the vicinity of a thermochromatic indicator provided on a wall of the aerosol container; and    detecting, based on a change in appearance of the thermochromatic indicator, the fill level of the flowable product in the aerosol container.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the inducing step comprises a step of exposing the aerosol container to heat from an external source.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the inducing step comprises a step of artificially cooling the aerosol container.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the inducing step comprises a step of dispensing the flowable product, at least in part, from the aerosol container.  
     
     
         23 . A method of manufacturing an aerosol container having a thermochromatic indicator, comprising the steps of: 
 fabricating an aerosol container; and    providing a thermochromatic indicator on the aerosol container and in heat-conducting relationship to a wall of the aerosol container.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the providing step comprises a step of printing at least one thermochromatic material on the wall of the aerosol container.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the providing step comprises steps of preparing a label including at least one thermochromatic material and securing the label to the wall of the aerosol container.  
     
     
         26 . An aerosol container, comprising: 
 an aerosol canister for containing a flowable product at a pressure greater than ambient pressure;    a dispensing valve for dispensing the flowable product from the aerosol canister; and    an image provided on the aerosol canister, the image being formed of a thermochromatic material.    
     
     
         27 . An aerosol container, comprising: 
 an aerosol canister for containing a flowable product at a pressure greater than ambient pressure;    a dispensing valve for dispensing the flowable product from the aerosol container; and    a thermochromatic pattern provided on the aerosol canister.    
     
     
         28 . The aerosol container of  claim 27 , wherein the thermochromatic pattern comprises at least one of a liquid crystal compound and a leuco dye.  
     
     
         29 . The aerosol container of  claim 27 , wherein the thermochromatic pattern comprises at least one of a shape, a symbol, and text.  
     
     
         30 . The aerosol container of  claim 27 , wherein the thermochromatic pattern comprises a plurality of thermochromatic materials, and each thermochromatic material has a different color-play window.  
     
     
         31 . A method of manufacturing an aerosol container having a thermochromatic pattern provided thereon, comprising the steps of: 
 fabricating an aerosol container; and    providing a thermochromatic pattern on the aerosol container and in heat-conducting relationship to a wall of the aerosol container.